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Ukraine war in maps: Tracking the Russian invasion Ukraine war in maps: Tracking the Russian invasion
(4 days later)
Russian forces appear to be consolidating their positions in the east of the country after using heavy firepower to weaken Ukraine's defences. There is heavy fighting in east Ukraine, with key locations under intense bombardment from Russian forces.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson says Russian forces are "continuing to chew through ground" in the Donbas region, making "slow, but I'm afraid palpable, progress."
Here are the latest developments:Here are the latest developments:
Bombardment of Donbas region by Russia forces is intensifying Russian troops are trying to encircle Severodonetsk and Lysychansk, targeting Ukrainian positions with artillery and heavy mortars
Russian reinforcements expected to hold positions north of Kharkiv Russian troops are pushing north from the town of Popasna, attacking Ukrainian supply routes
Russia preparing to surround the key city of Severodonetsk Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says the Donbas could be left uninhabited by the Russian invasion
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February, but Ukrainian forces retook large areas around Kyiv in early April after Russia abandoned its push towards the capital. Russia advancing in the east
Following the withdrawal from the north of Ukraine, Russia has refocused its efforts on taking control of the east and south of the country. Russian officials have said their forces are fighting for the "complete liberation" of the Donbas, which broadly refers to Ukraine's eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, where Russian-backed separatists held significant territory before the invasion.
Russia now controls more than 90% of Luhansk and has made significant advances in Donetsk since Russia's invasion on 24 February.
Eastern cities and supply routes under attack
Russian forces are closing in on Severodonetsk from three sides, with some parts of the city within range of heavy mortar fire.
Analysts say that Ukrainian units are well dug in and that Russian troops may sustain heavy casualties as they advance into urban areas.
A Russian attempt to push south from Izyum along the road to Slovyansk was effectively stalled by Ukrainian forces.
However, Russian troops have moved north from Popasna, with the key supply route from Bakhmut to Lysychansk being bombarded by Russian artillery.
Should the route be taken by Russia, Severodonetsk and Lysychansk would be left with one supply road via Siversk.
Reports suggest that parts of Lyman are now under Russian control.
The fall of Lyman would bring Russian forces within 20km (12 miles) of the city of Slovyansk,
Russia's 'Frankenstein forces' inching forward
Russian forces have suffered heavy losses since the invasion began.
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) says Russia has likely suffered a similar death toll in the first three months of its Ukraine operation, to that experienced by the Soviet Union during its nine year war in Afghanistan.The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) says Russia has likely suffered a similar death toll in the first three months of its Ukraine operation, to that experienced by the Soviet Union during its nine year war in Afghanistan.
It says a combination of factors have led to the high number of casualties, including poor tactics and limited air cover. Significant quantities of Russian weaponry have also been destroyed.
Slow Russian advances continues in east As a result, Russia has tried to combine some heavily depleted units, forming what some analysts have called 'Frankenstein forces' to fight in the east.
Russian officials have said its forces are fighting for the "complete liberation" of the Donbas, which broadly refers to Ukraine's eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, where Russian-backed separatists held significant territory before the invasion. Ukraine has successfully pushed Russian forces away from Kharkiv, though Russian units are continuing to shell some parts of the city, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
The focus of Russian forces in recent weeks has been around the city of Izyum and in the east towards Severodonetsk. The ISW reports that Russian troops withdrawn from around Kharkiv are being redeployed to the Donetsk region.
Russian troops have taken control of Rubizhne and Popasna as they move to surround their target of Severodonetsk. In southern Donetsk, Russia is now fully in control of the port city of Mariupol.
To the north, however, Ukrainian forces have now pushed the majority of Russian forces away from Kharkiv, the country's second largest city. The siege of Mariupol, which lasted more than two months, came to an end on 20 May.
The ISW reports that Russian troops withdrawn from around Kharkiv are now being redeployed to the Donetsk region. Analysts say the fall of the city may enable Russian units to join the fight in other areas such as Zaporizhzhia, where the shelling of Ukrainian forces is ongoing.
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Russia targets full control of south Russia targeting full control of south
Russian forces initially made rapid gains in the south, with their main objective being the creation of a land corridor between Crimea, which it annexed in 2014, and areas held by Russian-backed separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk.Russian forces initially made rapid gains in the south, with their main objective being the creation of a land corridor between Crimea, which it annexed in 2014, and areas held by Russian-backed separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk.
But strong resistance from Ukrainian forces near Mykolaiv in the west and in Mariupol in the east significantly slowed Russian advances. But strong resistance from Ukrainian forces near Mykolaiv in the west and in Mariupol significantly slowed Russian advances.
Russia has now taken control of the port city of Mariupol, which its forces encircled at the start of March, after more than two months of fierce Ukrainian resistance.
Several hundred Ukrainian troops who were holed up in the Azovstal metal works factory in the south of the city have now surrendered.
To the west, Russia had aimed to take control of Odesa and cut off Ukraine's access to the Black Sea, but its forces were blocked by a staunch defence in Mykolaiv and forced back towards Kherson by a Ukrainian counteroffensive in March.To the west, Russia had aimed to take control of Odesa and cut off Ukraine's access to the Black Sea, but its forces were blocked by a staunch defence in Mykolaiv and forced back towards Kherson by a Ukrainian counteroffensive in March.
In the Black Sea, Russia is continuing efforts to reinforce its troops on Snake Island. The roughly 16-hectare (40-acre) rocky outpost is owned by Ukraine but was taken over by Russian forces in February. Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February, but Ukrainian forces retook large areas around Kyiv in early April after Russia abandoned its push towards the capital.
Analysis: Snake Island and battle for control in Black Sea Areas in the west of the country, including Lviv, have seen missile attacks but no attempt to take and occupy ground by Russian forces.
By David Brown, Bella Hurrell, Dominic Bailey, Mike Hills, Lucy Rodgers, Paul Sargeant, Alison Trowsdale, Tural Ahmedzade, Mark Bryson, Zoe Bartholomew, Sean Willmott, Sana Dionysiou, Joy Roxas, Gerry Fletcher, Jana Tauschinsk, Debie Loizou, Simon Martin and Prina Shah.By David Brown, Bella Hurrell, Dominic Bailey, Mike Hills, Lucy Rodgers, Paul Sargeant, Alison Trowsdale, Tural Ahmedzade, Mark Bryson, Zoe Bartholomew, Sean Willmott, Sana Dionysiou, Joy Roxas, Gerry Fletcher, Jana Tauschinsk, Debie Loizou, Simon Martin and Prina Shah.
About these mapsAbout these maps
To indicate which parts of Ukraine are under control by Russian troops we are using daily assessments published by the Institute for the Study of War with the American Enterprise Institute's Critical Threats Project.To indicate which parts of Ukraine are under control by Russian troops we are using daily assessments published by the Institute for the Study of War with the American Enterprise Institute's Critical Threats Project.
To show key areas where advances are taking place we are also using daily updates from the UK Ministry of Defence and BBC research.To show key areas where advances are taking place we are also using daily updates from the UK Ministry of Defence and BBC research.
The situation in Ukraine is fast moving and it is likely there will be times when there have been changes not reflected in the maps.The situation in Ukraine is fast moving and it is likely there will be times when there have been changes not reflected in the maps.